Roger Fingas
iPad 2 was still the most commonly-used iPad in October, despite the numerous other models shipped since 2011, according to a study published on Friday by analytics firm Localytics.
Based on data collected from over 50 million iPads, the iPad 2 represented 20 percent of devices in use, Localytics said. Following suit were the iPad mini at 18 percent, and the iPad Air at 17 percent.
Apple's current flagship iPads — the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 — accounted for just 9 percent and 0.3 percent of usage, respectively. In comparison, the original iPad from 2010 claimed a 3 percent share.
Localytics suggested that the discrepancy is attributable to longer lifecycles, since unlike iPhones there aren't normally any contracts attached to an iPad. People are also said to be taking advantage of older models staying on sale at a discount — the iPad mini 2, for instance, can be had for $269, much less than the $499 Air 2 or the $399 Mini 4.
The firm added that first-month adoption of new iPads has been on the decline since 2012, and in fact declined precipitously in 2013. The only new iPad released in 2015 so far, the Mini 4, had early adoption of just 0.2 percent.
The iPad Pro could potentially make a bigger dent than recent models, Locayltics said, since it makes significant deviations, including not just a larger screen but first-party stylus and keyboard accessories. Apple is allegedly switching the iPad from a purely consumption-oriented device to one with work functions.
"Perhaps this transition will also prevent the tablet from being phased out by the 'phablet' by providing services that a phablet can't," Localytics concluded.
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92 Comments
My iPad 2 will be out of the stats sometime this month! Bring on the Pro!
My iPad 2 still rocks. Battery life is solid. Lighter than the iPad 3/4, even though it lacks the retina display.
The iPad 2 is awesome. I have both the first gen and 2nd. I still use the 2 everyday. I will finally upgrade to the Pro because of the size and pen, but so not foresee putting the 2 away any time soon. Two different case use products.
Where do they get their data from? Is this gathered from ads on Apps or website hits/usage? Quite impressive that the iPad 2 is still going strong though although I think it had been on sale for the longest space of time. My old iPad 2 is still used by my outlaws for web browsing.
I stopped using my iPad 2 when I bought the 3rd gen (which I did when it first came out). I've been a regular user of it for over three years now, and couldn't be happier. That said, the battery life is down to something like 8 hours (from ~10), and I find that the processor is noticeably slower (compared to, say, that of my current iPhone).
It is an incredibly robust product. I think its life in use is as good as, if not better than, that of my typical MBP purchase.